There has not been a quality quarterback under center for the Minnesota Vikings since legendary gunslinger Brett Favre. Well, Vikings fans can breathe a little easier. After what has seemed like decades of drought at the position, Minnesota’s scouting department hit the lottery when they pulled the trigger on Louisville Cardinals star Teddy Bridgewater, and the kid might be even better than advertised.

Bridgewater is the real deal. The man is pro-ready. He played in a pro-style offense in Louisville, and also has all the physical tools you look for in a quarterback in terms of accuracy and arm strength. But inherently more crucial is the way Bridgewater takes command of his offense; his field vision is off the charts, and he makes Peyton Manning-caliber decisions.

The freshman quarterback has remarkable pocket presence. Every year, he fired more touchdowns passes with fewer interceptions at an eye-opening completion rate for a blossoming pocket passer of his caliber. Bridgewater also has such a presence about him as a person: he is arguably the most humble, well-adjusted kid most players in the NFL will ever be around.

His 6-foot-2, 214-pound physique is impressive. He is a calculated, world-class athlete who plays like a coach on the field, making very few mental errors and is ridiculous in his game preparation. He is smart, determined and focused. At the collegiate level, Bridgewater’s game took off when he was given autonomy to make pre-snap reads and adjustments at the line of scrimmage. This allowed him to exploit defenses and shred opposing secondaries at will.

NFL defenses should consider themselves on notice. In due time, Bridgewater’s game will pose an irritating problem for even the league’s most lights-out defensive coordinators.